Load binder

ABSTRACT

A load binder for use in connection with a typical tie strap for securing a load for transport is provided. The load binder includes elements that are conformable to the shape of a particular load and which prevent the tie down from twisting upon itself. The load binder essentially comprises a body having and a handle pivotally attached to the body, a link pivotally attached to the handle, a first tie down engaging element attached to the link by a ball joint and a second tie down engaging element attached to the threaded shaft by a ball joint. The freely movable ball joints coupling the tie engaging elements to the binder allow the binder to conform to the shape of the load and also prevent the tie down from twisting upon itself. Additionally, a safety latch is incorporated into the binder which positively locks the handle in position relative to the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to load binders for tensioningtie downs used to secure a load of cargo for transportation. Moreparticularly, relating to a load binder having elements that areconformable to the shape of a particular load and which includes animproved tension adjustment assembly and safety lock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved load binder isprovided for tensioning a tie down and which is conformable to the shapeof the load being secured by the tie down and which also reducestwisting of the tie down.

One of the main improvements of the load binder of the present inventionis found in the use of flexible joints for attaching tie down engagingelements to the load binder so that the load binder is able to conformto the general cross sectional shape of the load being secured by thetie downs.

Heretofore, load binders have been rigid machines that did not includeelements allowing the load binder to generally conform to the shape ofthe cargo being secured by the tie down without putting undue bendingstrain and stress on the load binder. Load binders are designed to takelarge axial loading which is required to provide a large amount oftension in the tie downs to properly secure a load being transported.However, load binders quite frequently experience large bending momentscreated by tensioning a tie down around a curvilinear load, such aslarge diameter pipes quite frequently used in drainage systems, largestacks of smaller diameter pipes, stacks of timber and the like. Thereis a high frequency of failure in prior art load binders when used insecuring loads of this type, which results in injury to operators orpedestrians and damage to the load.

As such, the load binder of the present invention is conformable to thecross sectional shape of the load being secured to prevent failure ofthe load binder due bending stress, thereby increasing the safety of theoperator, safety of pedestrians and safety of the load beingtransported.

In doing so, the load binder essentially comprises a body having abifurcated first end and an elongated second end that defines an axialbore which includes a threaded portion, a handle having a bifurcatedfirst end which is received by the bifurcated end of the body and whichis pivotally attached therewith by a pair of pins, one each coupling thejuxtaposed furcations of the bifurcated first end of the body and thebifurcated first end of the handle, a threaded shaft threadably receivedby the second end of the body, a link pivotally attached to the firstend of the handle, a first tie down engaging element attached to thelink by a ball joint, a second tie down engaging element attached to thethreaded shaft by a ball joint and a safety pin.

An additional advantage of the instant load binder is the ability of theload binder to reduce twisting of the a tie down during the tensioningthereof, which will be described in further detail infra.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbe readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a readingof the following detailed description of presently preferred, butnonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantagesand the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be hadto the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there isillustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the loadbinder in use securing a tie down about a stack of pipes;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the load binder illustrating thebinder in a generally non-clamped position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the load binder in aclamped, loaded position;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4—in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the second end of the bodyof the load binder. The same reference numerals refer to the same partsthroughout the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1–a preferredembodiment of the load binder of the present invention is shown andgenerally designated by the reference numeral 10.

In FIG. 1, a new and improved load binder 10 of the present inventionfor tensioning a typical tie down 100 to secure a typical load 110 isillustrated and will be described. More particularly, the load binder 10is comprised of a body 12, a handle 14 pivotally connected to the bodyat point 16, a threaded shaft 18, a link 20, which is pivotallyconnected to the handle 14, a first tie down engaging element 22 connectto the link by a ball joint 24, a second tie down engaging element 26connected to the threaded shaft by a ball joint 28 at point 30 and asafety pin 56.

The load binder 10 is illustrated in an in-use configuration where thehandle 10 is closed against the body 12 to remove slack in the tie down100 to secure the load 110. For exemplary purposes only, the load 110 isillustrated as a stack of small diameter pipes having a curvilinearcross sectional shape. The view illustrates how the load binder canconform to the shape of the load, where each ball joint 16 and 28 areslightly rotated downward towards the load so that the tie engagingelements 22 and 26 can partially wrap around the load to engage the endsof the tie down 100, while transferring the majority of tension forcepresent within the tie down axially along the load binder to reducebending stress thereof.

Prior art load binders do not have the provision of the ball jointcoupling elements 16 and 28 for attaching tie engaging elements 22 and26 to the load binder 10. While most prior art load binders make use ofa typical chain link or D-ring connection between the tie engagingelements and the load binder allowing the tie engaging element to pivotin a single plane in space to slightly conform to a load, this arrangecreates a sharp angle change along the tension force path which resultsin a high bending moment in the load binder.

In addition, the methods of attaching the tie engagement elements ofprior art load binders with the binder does not allow for the tieengagement elements to rotate freely about an axis parallel to the tieengaging elements. This quite frequently results in a tie down twistingupon its self as tension is applied by during the actuation of the loadbinder. This creates a major point of failure with the integrity of thesecurment of the load, in that during transport the load may shiftresulting in the tie becoming untwisted causing the tie to lose tensionand to not properly secure load, which can result in the load becomingfree during transportation. The inclusion of the ball joints 16 and 28in the preferred embodiment for attaching the tie engaging elements 22and 26 to the load binder 10 insures the tie will not twist upon itselfduring tensioning thereof.

Now turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, in FIG. 2 the load binder 10 isillustrated in a non-clamped position with the handle 14 rotated awayfrom the body 12 and in FIG. 3, which is an enlarged detailed top view,the load binder shown in a generally closed position. The body 12includes a bifurcated first end 34 having two parallel furcations 38 andan elongated second end 36, which is adapted to threadably receive thethreaded shaft 18.

The handle 14 has a bifurcated first end 40 having two parallelfurcations 42 which are positioned between the furcations 38 of thefirst end 34 of the body 12, as illustrated. Each pair of juxtaposedfurcations 38 and 42 are pinned to each other by a pair pins 44 a and 44b. The use of two separate pins 44 a and 44 b allows the space betweenthe furcations 42 to remain open so as to receive the link 20therebetween.

A first end 46 of the link 20 is pivotally connected to the handlebetween the furcations 42 by a link pin 47. The free end 48 of the link20 is free to pivot between the furcations 38 of body 12 and thefurcations 42 of the handle 14. Ball joint 24 is connected between theend 48 of the link 20 and the tie engaging element 22, and ball joint 28is connected between end 50 of the threaded shaft 18 and the tieengaging element 26.

Preferably, the first end 40 of the handle is triangular shaped with thefirst end 46 of the link 10 fixedly pinned at apex 52 by link pin 47.The triangular shaped end 40 of the handle 14 with the link 10 pinned atapex 52 provides a cam action between the handle 14 and the body 12 whenthe handle is rotated where the center line parallel to the tensionforce along link 10 of the apex passes a corresponding parallel centerline of the pinned connections between furcations 38 and 42. Mostpreferably, the handle 14 is elongated and is of a length that isgreater then the length of the body 12 to provide a force advantage toan operator aiding the operation of the load binder 10.

Turning now to FIG. 4, which is an enlarged cross sectional view of theload binder 10 taken along line 4—4 in FIG. 3. The load binder 10 canalso include a safety pin 56 that is passed through cooperating holes 57formed through each furcation 38 of the end 34 and through eachfurcation 42 of end 40. The safety pin 56 provides an additionalsecurity feature to the load binder 10 by locking the relative positionof the handle 14 with the body 12 ensuring the handle will not pop losewhen loaded and securing a tie down. The safety pin 56 is passed throughthe ends 34 and 40 such that when the load binder 10 is binding a loadthe safety pin restrains the link 20 from rotating in a directionoutwardly from the bound load, thereby adding additional safety to auser if the load should shift. Most preferably, a clasp 58 is providedand is fixedly attached to the safety pin 56 at one and removablyattached to the safety pin at an opposite end. Most preferably, theclasp 58 is attached to the ends of the safety pin 56 beyond the outersurfaces of the furcations 38 and wraps around the furcations 38 and 42from one end of the safety pin to the opposite end of the safety pin.

While the preferred safety pin 56 is describe supra it is recognizedother elements or different types of pins could reasonable besubstituted for the safety pin 56 as preferably described. Examples ofdifferent types of elements that could be substituted for safety pin 56includes but is not limited to a padlock or a D-ring or the like.Examples of different types of pins that could be substituted includesbut is not limited to a cotter pin, a roll pin, a clevis pin, a hitchpin or a snap pin.

Referring now to FIG. 5, which a partial longitudinal cross section viewof the second end 36 of the body 12 and of the threaded shaft 18. Thesecond end 36 defines an axial bore 59 which includes a threaded section60 to which the threaded shaft 18 is threaded into. The threaded shaft18 can be threaded into and out of the axial bore 58 to a predeterminedlength to adjust the over-all length of the load binder 10. By turningthe threaded shaft 18 in or out of the axial bore 59, the length of theload binder 10 can be finely adjusted to provide a desired amount oftension in the tie down. Additionally, a stop means 62 can beincorporated into the end 36 and the threaded shaft 18 to prevent thethreaded shaft from being completely removed from the axial bore 59 andto retain a predetermined, desired length of the threaded shaft withinthe axial bore. An example of stop means 62 includes the threaded shaft18 having a mushroomed head 63 b and the axial bore 59 having a shoulder63 a that the head 63 b abuts when the thread shaft is turned out apredetermined distance, thereby preventing the thread shaft from furtherremoval from the axial bore. Preferably, the predetermined length is atleast about twice the diameter of the threaded shaft 18. Mostpreferably, the predetermined length is at least one inch.

In an additional embodiment, a slot 64 can be formed through the end 66of the handle 14 opposite the bifurcated end 34. The slot 64 is adaptedto receive a safety strap (not illustrated) threaded therethrough, whichis secured around the second end 36 of the body to prevent the end 66 ofthe handle 14 from opening away from the second end 36 of the body.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A load binder for use in conjunction with a load securing tie downfor securing a load for transport, comprising: a body having a first endand a second end, wherein said first end is bifurcated and wherein saidsecond end defines an axial bore having a threaded end section; a handlehaving a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of saidhandle is bifurcated and is received between the furcations of saidfirst end of said body so that the furcations of said first end of saidbody are juxtaposed the furcations of said first end of said handle,further wherein the juxtaposed furcations are pinned to each other sothat said handle and said body are pivotally connected at said first endof said body and at said first end of said handle; a link having a firstend which is pinned to said handle approximate said first end of saidhandle and a second free end; a threaded shaft received by said threadedbore of said second end of said body; a first tie engaging element; afirst ball joint coupling said first tie engaging element to said freeend of said link; a second tie engaging element; a second ball jointcoupling said first engaging element to said threaded shaft; and asafety pin, wherein said safety pin is received by cooperating holesdefined by the furcations of said first end of said body and thefurcations of said first end of said handle such that said safety pinpasses completely through said body and completely through said handleand is positioned outwardly of said link, thereby preventing said linkfrom rotating in a direction outwardly from the load.
 2. The load binderof claim 1, wherein said safety pin comprises: a clasp having a firstend fixedly attached to a first end of said safety pin and a second enddetachably secured to a second end of said safety pin.
 3. The loadbinder of claim 1, wherein said first end of said handle is triangularshaped and further wherein said link is fixedly pinned to an apex ofthereof.
 4. The load binder of claim 1, further comprising a stop meansfor retaining a predetermined length of said thread shaft within saidaxial bore, said stop means is incorporated into said threaded shaft andsaid axial bore.
 5. The load binder of claim 4, wherein saidpredetermined length is at least about equal to twice the diameter ofsaid threaded shaft.
 6. The load binder of claim 1, wherein said handledefines a slot for receiving a safety strap used to secure the relativeposition of said handle to said body.
 7. The load binder of claim 1,wherein said first and said second ball joints are free to rotate toprevent said tie down from becoming twisted upon itself.
 8. A loadbinder for use in conjunction with a load securing tie down for securinga load for transport, comprising: a body having a first end and a secondend, wherein said first end is bifurcated and wherein said second enddefines an axial bore having a threaded end section; a handle having afirst end and a second end, wherein said first end of said handle isbifurcated and is received between the furcations of said first end ofsaid body so that the furcations of said first end of said body arejuxtaposed the furcations of said first end of said handle, furtherwherein the juxtaposed furcations are pinned to each other so that saidhandle and said body are pivotally connected at said first end of saidbody and at said first end of said handle; a link having a first end andan free end, said first end is fixedly pinned to said handle approximatesaid first end of said handle and between said furcations of said firstend of said handle, said link is free to pivot between said furcationsof said first end of said body and said furcations of said first end ofsaid handle; a threaded shaft received by said threaded bore of saidsecond end of said body; a first tie engaging element; a first balljoint coupling said first tie engaging element to said link; a secondtie engaging element; a second bail joint coupling said first engagingelement to said threaded shaft; a safety pin, wherein said safety pin isreceived by cooperating holes defined by the furcations of said firstend of said body and the furcations of said first end of said handlesuch that said safety pin passes completely through said body andcompletely through said handle and is positioned outwardly of said link,thereby preventing said link from rotating in a direction outwardly fromthe load; and wherein said handle defines a slot for receiving a safetystrap used to secure the relative position of said handle to said bodyand said handle rotating relative to said body.
 9. The load binder ofclaim 8, wherein said first end of said handle is triangular shaped andfurther wherein said link is pinned to an apex of thereof.
 10. The loadbinder of claim 8, wherein said safety pin comprises: a clasp having afirst end fixedly attached to a first end of said safety pin and asecond end detachably secured to a second end of said safety pin. 11.The load binder of claim 8, further comprising a stop means forretaining a predetermined length of said thread shaft within said axialbore, said stop means is incorporated into said threaded shaft and saidaxial bore.
 12. The load binder of claim 11, wherein said predeterminedlength is at least about equal to twice the diameter of said threadedshaft.
 13. A load binder for use in conjunction with a load securing tiedown for securing a load for transport, comprising: a body having afirst end and a second end, wherein said first end is bifurcated andwherein said second end defines an axial bore having a threaded endsection; a handle having a first end and a second end, wherein saidfirst end of said handle is bifurcated and triangular shaped and isreceived between the furcations of said first end of said body so thatthe furcations of said first end of said body are juxtaposed thefurcations of said first end of said handle, further wherein thejuxtaposed furcations are pinned to each other so that said handle andsaid body are pivotally connected at said first end of said body and atsaid first end of said handle; a link having a first end and an freeend, said first end is fixedly pinned to an apex of said handleapproximate said first end of said handle and between said furcations ofsaid first end of said handle, said link is free to pivot between saidfurcations of said first end of said body and said furcations of saidfirst end of said handle; a threaded shaft received by said threadedbore of said second end of said body; a first tie engaging element; afirst ball joint coupling said first tie engaging element to said link;a second tie engaging element; a second ball joint coupling said firstengaging element to said threaded shaft; a safety pin, wherein saidsafety pin is received by cooperating holes defined by the furcations ofsaid first end of said body and the furcations of said first end of saidhandle such that said safety pin passes completely through said body andcompletely through said handle and is positioned outwardly of said link,thereby preventing said link from rotating in a direction outwardly fromthe load; a clasp having a first end fixedly attached to a first end ofsaid safety pin and a second end detachably secured to a second end ofsaid safety pin; said threaded shaft having a mushroomed head and saidaxial bore having a shoulder which abuts said mushroomed head when saidthreaded shaft is turned out a predetermined distance, therebypreventing further turning out of said threaded shaft; and wherein saidhandle defines a slot for receiving a safety strap used to secure therelative position of said handle to said body.